Makers Next Door: Meet High-Tech Lantern Maker Tan Yen Kim
Chinese New Year may have come and gone, but Tan Yen Kim holds fond memories of the holiday. It isn’t just because of the festivities—it was also the reason why she picked up lantern making.
The 55-year-old retiree is a fan of handicrafts, and often feels compelled to experiment with new ways of creating things. While on the lookout for activities to keep herself occupied, she eventually participated in a number of National Library Board (NLB) programmes, since they were free and convenient for her to attend.
One of these programmes happened to be a MakeIT at Libraries “starter session”— an introductory workshop about digital fabrication. These sessions featured hands-on learning and easy-to-understand information about machines like the digital cutter and 3D printer, which was perfect for a newcomer like Yen Kim, who was interested in learning more about these crafting technologies that complemented her interest in handicrafts.
Getting into Lantern-Making
Yen Kim was initially introduced to the lantern-making activity by a friend familiar with the library’s Time of Your Life (TOYL) programmes, part of an initiative by NLB offering library services, programmes and activities for library users aged 50 and above.
At first, she assumed that she would be crafting lanterns out of red packets. But upon reading the workshop’s description more carefully, she was pleasantly surprised to learn that she was going to use a variety of fabricator machines in the makerspace to create unique lanterns.
“I enjoy crafts, so the idea of creating lanterns from red packets was already exciting. But when I registered for the programme and read the description again, I was surprised to find out that I would instead be creating lanterns from a mixture of crafting technologies. It exceeded my expectations.”
The Joys of Experimenting
The classes offered multiple templates and materials to work with. “I appreciated that I wasn’t constrained to a standard product or method during the workshop,” she said. However, she was particularly interested in using the digital cutting machine.
At first, Yen Kim chose to include Chinese characters on each of the lantern’s four felt panels, but it wasn’t as simple as she’d thought. The success of such a design was dependent on whether the intricate shapes could remain intact after the spaces around them were removed. One wrong cut and the entire design would be ruined.
It took her a while to develop the design she wanted, but her efforts paid off as she explored different Chinese character designs and sizes to fit her needs. Experimenting allowed her to produce cohesive design panels for her final design.
“Although things didn’t quite turn out the way I expected, experimenting was a good learning opportunity,” she reflected.
Learning New Creative Tools
Yen Kim spent plenty of time with the digital cutting machines during the classes, where she learnt to accurately cut her lantern’s complex shapes on paper and other materials. The machine’s ability to digitally detect object outlines and slice materials with mechanical precision allowed her to produce her designs with ease.
Aside from the digital cutting machine, Yen Kim also learnt how to use the 3D printers and 3D pens at these sessions. 3D printers allow you to “print out” physical items from virtual designs using environmentally friendly PLA plastic, while 3D pens allow you to draw 3D items using the same plastic as “ink”.
Between the two, she found the 3D pen easier to learn. “It’s light and can be controlled easily,” she explained. “You only need to learn how to manoeuvre the pen and use its in-built buttons before creating your desired design.”
“Learning how to use the 3D printers and the digital cutting machines was a bit more complex,” she said, since she had to learn more about the machines first. Unfazed by the challenge, though, she added, “It may be intimidating at first, but once you start, you’ll quickly realise it’s not as tough as you thought.”
A Nurturing Environment for Learning
“The maker coaches encouraged me to explore different lantern designs and shapes,” said Yen Kim. She fondly recalled a patient maker coach. “I remember a coach who didn’t have all the answers, but I appreciated how she wasn’t afraid to give things a go and share what she learnt with the rest of the participants.”
“All of this showed me how MakeIT sessions offered a nurturing environment for learning.”
Nowadays, she prefers making items to buying them as it brings her great satisfaction to see her lessons implemented in her creations. “Every time I look at my lantern, I will recall everything I learnt about making it, and that’s very meaningful to me. It may not be as fancy as the ones from the market, but it is more precious to me.”
Growing with MakeIT
Reflecting on her experience with MakeIT at Libraries, Yen Kim thinks that she has grown both creatively and as a person. “Since I was young, I’ve always enjoyed approaching projects from different angles, so creating things with technology like the 3D pen and digital cutting machines stimulates me,” she explained. “These programmes really support my lifelong learning goals as a senior.”
A new retiree, Yen Kim is particularly enthusiastic about recommending the enriching sessions offered by the new MakeIT x TOYL (Seniors) series, an NLB initiative specially curated for seniors. “Learning new skills at these programmes keeps our brains active and allows us to spend time more fruitfully,” she said. “I’ve also made many new friends by attending these programmes and bonding with them over shared interests.”
For those who are a little hesitant to pick up a new skill or hobby at MakeIT at Libraries, Yen Kim has some words of wisdom. “Have an open mind, be hungry to learn new things, and don’t be scared to fail,” she asserted.
About MakeIT
MakeIT is a free-for-public library makerspace that aims to introduce the wonder of digital and tech-based creativity through 3D printing, robotics and other forms of tech-based tinkering to all adult and senior library members. All programmes and materials are free, and no expertise is required.
You can browse the range of MakeIT programmes here, join the community of makers at MakeIT on Facebook, or visit MakeIT at Libraries in person at the following locations:
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